Global Views and Paragon Inducted into ARTS Awards Hall of Fame
Both companies received their fifth coveted ARTS Award in their respective categories during a gala event in January.
Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, announced the induction of Global Views and Paragon into the prestigious ARTS Awards Hall of Fame. Both companies received their fifth coveted ARTS Award in their respective categories of competition during a gala event held on Saturday, January 16 in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.
The Hall of Fame, conceived by Dallas Market Center and ART in 2003, honors companies that have won five awards within a specific category at the ARTS Awards. Once a company is inducted into the Hall of Fame that company is not eligible to compete in the ARTS Awards for the following three years in the same category, but it may participate in other categories.
“We are thrilled to add these two exceptional manufacturers to our ARTS Awards Hall of Fame,” says Sharon Davis, executive director, ART. “Global Views and Paragon are both truly deserving of this great honor.”
Global Views, a decorative accessories manufacturer, was founded in 1997 by Lois del Negro, David Gebhart and Frederick Rayner. Drawing upon previous retail buying experience, del Negro, Gebhart and Rayner worked to produce a line of unique home accessories available at affordable prices. The Global Views accessory collection blends elegance with exotic elements to provide items that fit within a wide array of home design. Today the company, based in Dallas, offers more than 1600 items made by skilled artisans from around the globe and is consistently recognized for its visual displays. Global Views attracts buyers from more than 10,000 retailers ranging in size from national multi-store chains to specialty boutiques.
Paragon, based in Albertville, Alabama, has been manufacturing framed wall décor for more than 30 years. Founders Bonnie and W.R. Glassco have continually built upon their original business model through innovation, value and reliable service. Today, the company is still run by the Glassco family and features a diverse product line that includes framed art, limited edition prints, mirrors, canvas transfers, oil paintings, wood plaques and unique tapestries. Paragon has been consistently recognized by ART and makes history this year as the first wall décor company to be inducted into the ARTS Awards Hall of Fame.
Global Views and Paragon take their place among a wide range of elite members of the decorative accessory industry. Previous ARTS Awards Hall of Fame inductees include BJ’s Home Accents, Feizy Rugs, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Fine Art Lamps, Montaage, Natural Decorations, Inc., Palecek, Robb & Stucky, and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting
The ARTS Awards, held each year during Dallas Market Center’s January Total Home & Gift Market, is the premier awards program for the decorative accessories industry, which recognizes excellent retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives and designers from around the world.
Make plans now to attend the next Dallas Total Home & Gift Markets: March 25-28 and June 23–29, 2010. Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, Market Travel, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 800-DAL-MKTS.
About the ARTS Awards
The ARTS Awards is the premiere awards program dedicated to the home decorative accessories industry. Twenty-six categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Sales Representative, Rising Star and Academy of Achievement. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won the ARTS Awards five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are: Global Views, Paragon, BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.
About the Accessories Resource Team
The Accessories Resource Team (ART) is the association representing accessory manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other industry individuals and companies interested in promoting the decorative home accessories industry. The association’s goal is to enhance the market position of decorative home accessories. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars and the ARTS Awards. The Accessories Resource Team website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org/.
About Dallas Market Center
Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and men's, western, women's and children's apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 84 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center website is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com/.